The Cecil Whig., 1887-12-24
on bis superinrs."

of the hall, but he could not stay there
long. He had to walk where he had
| been ordered to, and so hack he went
And again, through the open trarsom
over the door, he heard lm Bates
Harry's room mate, say to him:
"Well, you'd better keep pretty qnle1
about how you got that problem, or you
may not keep your place"
con ! I've torn up the original that
Dana gave me and the explanations o.
it be sent me. 1t was lucky he ChanCed
to be here last week"
Joe heard no more, as the relief came
in just then and relieved him of duty
but he understood it all now.
Lieutenant Dana OF the army WAS OF
leave of absence, and the week before
had spent few days at the Academy
AS his plebe, or successor, SGandiforc
had obtained permission to see hirn
and Zoe knew that Dana had gwen hin
a lot OF his old text books, and doubt
less this particular problem. all worked
out. and with full explanations. And i
was in that way he had got the prob
lem.
He could not possibly have WORKED
it out himself. 1t was no better thar
out and out cheating and dishonesty
and if he should report it, it Would un,
doubledly send INN down and Joe up
Should ne do it?
He was angry beyond measure, and
as he started off towards his room, he
mad determined he would, when the
| thought of the dear mother at home
who would rather her boy should never
graduate than that he should win a
place by any cowardly means, arrested
him
"No, that would be mean. | viii
not. Mother will approve, when | tel
her ALL" he said to himself, and went
into his room determined to work only
the harder and keep the secret to him
self.
| About week after the event related,
at midnight, when the whole barracks
were wrapped in darkness, and silent
with the sleep OF health and hard work,
Zoe was suddenly awakened, and found
his room mate, Walter Brown, shaking
| him.
"Wake up, Joe. l heard some queer
noises down i'll the area. There is some
thing going on. Its see what it is"
II took Joe but an instant to get into
his clothes and at the window. Peering
out through the gloom they were able
to distinguish lndistinctly several forms
in the darkness, and there was NUN
bling going on, that was interrupted
every now and then by yelp or howl.
"I'm gong down, Walter, to see
what it all is, said Joe, suitng the ac-
ton to the word
He had just reached the area, and
was close to the group when he heard
one Of the voices call out, "Therc's a
Tao coming, fellows" upon which
they all scattered and fled, one of them
coming close by him, whom Joe recog-
nized as Jim Bates.
Joe at first turned to flee also from
the tactical officer, whom he saw COM
ing, when he noticed in the gloom
where the group had just been, a form
rise partly up and then fall down again,
and utter slight moan as if in great
pain. He ran towards it, and found it
was Harry Standlford.
Is that you, Standiford2" he asked,
in a whisper,
"Yes," answered Standlford, with a
groan. eve have been 10 Highland
Falls having supper, and Pm done
for if Pm caught.
"Why don't you run thcn1' natur-
ally asked Joe.
Cant do it. I've spraincd my ankle,
and in falling I've cut my head on a
stone. Oh, my head my head he
groaned again.
"Hush don't make SO much noise.
There's Tao coming. He can't see
US now, but will find US out if we are
not quiet. Can you get up aad walk if
help you7"
"No, no, | can't. I have hurt my
ankle, and can't stand on it. What
shall | do? | will be found out and dis
missed"
He groaned in an agony of pain and
fright.
an help you, but you must keep
perfectly quiet" and suiting the action
to the word, Joe lifted Harry up and
carried him quickly to the porch and
deposited him just inside the hall.
"Now keep quiet for couple of mo-
mcnts, and then crawl up to your
room," he said, decidedly. Ill mis-
lead the Iac.''
Joe knew that the "Tac" would head
for the hall, and Harry would be found
out, and of course be dismissed.
There was one thing that would pre-
vent it, and that one thing he did,
though he knew also it would be at
considerable risk to himself He darted
off the porch through the darkness of
the area, making considerable noise.
"Halt p called out the "Iac." "Who
are youP Mr.. Howard, it is you, is it?
What are you doing out here at this
time of night2"
Joe looked him square IN the face.
He could not tell him what he was
dong there, for that meant dismissal to
|